Page 17 of A Fae in Finance
“Where are you taking me?” I scrabbled against his fingers with my free hand. He grabbed it and held it in front of us. We probably looked like the worst dance partners in a tango competition.
“The Court. Stop talking.”
I tried to open my mouth, but this time he’d clearly bound me with a spell.
I jerked against his hand but couldn’t pull loose. So I looked around as he half led, half carried me along a narrow stony path. I didn’t recognize the topography of Central Park; we should have been heading directly into the reservoir, but instead we were walking toward a hill, probably no taller than one of the brownstones bordering the park, and dotted with gaping holes. Sahir went straight toward the largest hole, a wide arch set into the middle of the hill. The arch was made of unsupported dirt, and clumps of grass clung to the sides.
We passed through into a long brown tunnel, dotted with rough-hewn wooden doors. I tried to speak again and managed a low croak. I felt the words building between my lips, like a carbonated drink.
He glanced at me, an expression like surprise flitting across his face. He wrinkled his long hooked nose. “That is a powerful spell. You have some gift, at least,” he said, sounding irritated. Then he looked away, his gaze flicking from door to door.
Without warning, he flung open a door on his left and spun me into a large, low room. The room was lit by glowing orbs that seemed to dance along the ceiling. There was a wide bed against the left wall and a desk beneath the window.
Sahir shut the door while I looked around. Along the far wall stood a stone basin, a cascading waterfall, and what (thank god) looked like a fully functioning porcelain toilet.
“What is this?” I rasped, my voice suddenly mine again.
“This is your room.” Sahir leaned against the shut door and crossed his arms over his chest. I stared at his implacable face. He’d left his hair loose, and it tumbled around his ears and cheeks, dangling at shoulder height.
He stared back at me.
“Why do I have a room here, Sahir?” I tried to modulate my voice, but I could hear it rising. “How long have you planned this?”
“You have a room here because you are a guest. I had no hand in the planning.”
“Guest?Guest?I’m a prisoner!” I snapped, and put my face in my hands.
There were several moments of silence. I wondered if he’d left.
He sighed, like he’d been holding his breath for as long as he could. “You are not a prisoner, Miriam.” Which meant he didn’t think I was, at least. “And I am sure the Princeling has made you his guest for a reason.” Which meant he didn’t know anything.
“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
When I looked up, he was rubbing the bridge of his nose. “It is probably not the dumbest thing you have ever heard, and if you were unable to lie, as I am, perhaps you would speak less.”
Rude.
“Sahir, what is going on? I’m very tired and I need to feed my cat, and I don’t know what the Gray Knight did with my computer.”
As soon as I said that I patted my pocket, frantic, and found my phone still there. “Do you get cell service here?”
He growled. “Humans,” he said.
“Humans?You guys kidnapped me, Sahir! I would get off my high horse if I were you!” I shoved the panic down and yanked my phone out, staring at the screen. One text from my mom, two from Thea, and sixteen messages in Games Games Games, the group chat.
Would I never play a board game with my friends again?I dropped the phone to the bed and then sat down, heavily.
“Idid not kidnap you.”
“Please take me home,” I said.
“You are home.”
At that, I screamed at him wordlessly and chucked the nearest object—a small throw pillow covered in a sandy knit pattern—at his head.
He ducked and groped for the doorknob. I hurled myself upright, off-balance and hurtling toward him with my hands outstretched in claws.
Sahir slipped out the door and slammed it shut behind him.
